An image of Sarah Spoto, founder and strategic advisor

Strategic Advisory

Thermal Hospitality, Wellness, and  Experiential Strategy

I’m Sarah Spoto, founder of Badii, host of Badii Talk: Thermal Bathing & Sauna Culture podcast and Substack, and certified Sauna Aufguss Master. I hold an MBA and have over 14 years experience working with lifestyle brands across the globe. Before diving into the bathing world, I was the Head of Marketing for General Motors Europe.

I partner with sauna, bathhouse, hospitality, and wellness brands to design differentiated experiences rooted in deep consumer understanding, cultural insight, and intentional strategy.

My work sits at the intersection of:

  • brand strategy

  • consumer insights

  • experiential design

  • and thermal bathing culture

With experience spanning luxury and premium brands, global product launches, customer research, and hands-on ritual facilitation, I help emerging and established wellness businesses create experiences that are emotionally resonant, operationally intentional, and strategically differentiated.

people enjoying sauna together

My Approach

1. Understand your customer

Strong wellness experiences begin with a deep understanding of the people they serve.

Through qualitative research and strategic analysis, I help brands uncover the motivations, behaviors, unmet needs, and emotional drivers shaping the guest experience.

Services may include:

  • Customer interviews

  • Focus groups

  • Consumer observation and synthesis

  • Persona development

  • Customer journey mapping

  • Experience and perception analysis

2. Define the Brand + Experience Strategy

I translate consumer insights into clear strategic direction — helping brands define why they exist, what they stand for, who they serve, and how they create meaningful differentiation.

Services may include:

  • Brand positioning

  • Value proposition development

  • Customer experience strategy

  • Membership and community strategy

  • Brand pillars and messaging

  • Experience differentiation

  • Go-to-market strategy

  • Innovation and concept development

 

3. Activate Across Channels + Experiences

I help brands ensure their digital, physical, and experiential touchpoints feel cohesive, intentional, and aligned with the guest experience. It’s a truly integrative approach.

Services may include:

  • Content and channel strategy

  • Social content pillars

  • Website messaging guidance

  • Creative and agency briefing

  • Wellness programming strategy

  • Sauna ritual and Aufguss programming

  • Guest journey and experiential design

  • Strategic support for launches and activations

 

4. Test, Refine & Evolve

Great experiences are iterative. I help brands identify critical assumptions about their consumers and business model, validate strategic decisions, and evolve intentionally over time. Doing so ensures your business stays competitive and differentiated in this quickly evolving industry.

Services may include:

  • Assumption mapping, prioritization, and validation

  • Pilot and test program strategy

  • Guest feedback systems

  • Innovation workshops

  • Strategic advisory retainers

  • Fractional leadership support

  • Ongoing brand and experience consultation

Three people enjoying a sauna

Who I Work With

I support:

  • Sauna and bathhouse brands

  • Wellness hospitality concepts

  • Boutique hotels and resorts

  • Retreat and membership-based wellness businesses

  • Emerging wellness startups

  • Experience-driven hospitality brands

  • Sauna and wellness ritual practitioners

 

What Makes My Perspective Different

My approach combines:

  • Luxury brand and product strategy expertise

  • Deep qualitative consumer insight experience

  • Global market and customer understanding

  • Immersive experience design

  • Hands-on sauna ritual facilitation

  • Deep engagement with global bathing cultures

This combination allows me to bridge strategic business thinking with emotionally resonant wellness experiences.

 

Engagement Formats

Available for:

  • Strategic advisory

  • Fractional leadership

  • Project-based consulting

  • Workshops and facilitation

  • Consumer insight initiatives

  • Experience and ritual programming

  • Brand and go-to-market strategy

 

Let’s Chat!

Schedule a Zoom coffee chat with me.